Envelope with an integral opening system including a communication area on the inside of its flap and its front wall

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to envelopes intended to convey information or a message printed or glued to the interior. The envelope includes a cut in its rear wall allowing enlargement of a communication area that is intended to receive a message carried by the inner face of a flap and of a front wall. An integral opening system is included for preventing any damage of this area during opening. This allows for direct marketing or transmission of confidential information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an envelope device and, more particularly to an envelope that that can receive and convey information on an inner face of its flap or front wall without being damaged when the envelope is opened.

(2) Description of Related Art

Envelopes have long been used to mail items. Recently, envelopes have been devised to transit or convey information on the envelope itself. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,980 describes an envelope where information is simply printed on the back of the envelope. Drawbacks of such prior art are that the envelope of does not include an opening system that is incorporated in the device, a portion of the information may be destroyed when opening or, in the best case, the flap may be separated from the envelope, making reconciling the information on the two printed parts uncertain.

Thus, a continuing need exists for an envelope that allows space for conveying information on an inner face of its flap without being damaged when the envelope is opened.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an envelope that that can receive and convey information on an inner face of its flap or front wall without being damaged when the envelope is opened.

The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing an envelope device including a large flap, which, after its opening, provides access to a communication space located in the inner face of the envelope. A precut strip allows the envelope to be opened to access the communication space/area. This thereby ensures the integrity of the message or information.

In a desired aspect, the communication surface area is enlarged to optimize it.

This enlargement is especially important, for example:

a. to allow having larger characters or printing a longer text;

b. to incorporate an image or a logo;

c. to incorporate a medium that can read digitally or optically; and

d. generally, any means of sending a printed or bonded message.

By convention, the front wall of the envelope will be designated as that which bears on its outer face the postage and the recipient's address, the other wall being designated as the rear wall.

The envelope of the present invention includes, in combination:

a. a flap of maximum size compatible with the means of mechanized folding with a glued area called the gummed tab at its end;

b. a cut in its rear wall with a height less than or equal to that of the flap to allow attachment of the gummed tab on this rear wall;

c. a device for opening by tearing the flap (by precutting, for example) positioned under the lower part of the cut in the rear wall described above, so as to integrally disengage it when opening, with the gummed tab remaining attached to the rear wall.

In another aspect, the opening device is incorporated into the rear wall, under the part of the rear wall that is intended to be adhered to by the gummed tab (as carried by the flap).

Some advantages of the envelope of the present invention (which also applied to folders) over existing prior art are:

a. the printed surface area or the surface area covered by the media is almost doubled;

b. superimposition of printed texts when the envelope is closed limits the risk of reading due to transparency if it is a personalized communication;

c. the combination of the printed flap and the opening device permits the text to be read to be saved; and

d. the communication text is integrally printed on the same surface formed on the inner face of the front wall and the flap that extends from it, making printing easier and avoiding having to split the text.

Finally, as can be appreciated by one in the art, the present invention also comprises a method for forming and using the invention described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various aspects of the invention in conjunction with reference to the following drawings, where:

FIG. 1 is a perspective-view illustration of an open envelope of the present invention, seen from a rear wall side;

FIG. 2 is a plan-view illustration of the sealed envelope of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective-view illustration of an embodiment of the envelope; and

FIG. 4 is a plan-view illustration of the sealed envelope of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an envelope device and, more particularly to an envelope that that can receive and convey information on an inner face of its flap or front wall without being damaged when the envelope is opened. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without necessarily being limited to these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All the features disclosed in this specification, (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is only one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of or ” act of in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.

Please note, if used, the labels left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise and counter clockwise have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions between various portions of an object.

(1) Description

The present invention relates to an envelope with an integral opening system and communication area. Shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective-view illustration of the envelope 1 of the invention, in the open position. This envelope 1 includes in its rear wall 2 a cut 3. A front wall 4 is extended by a flap 5, including a gummed tab 6 and an opening device 7 located closest to this gummed tab 6. The opening device 7 is, for example, a precut or perforated part of the envelope 1.

Printed communication area 8 (ABCDEF, for example) is located on the inner wall of flap 5, extended by the inner face of front wall 4, located in front of cut 3 of rear wall 2. This provides a near doubling of communication surface area 8 on the same face of the paper.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a plan-view illustration of the closed envelope, viewing the rear wall side. Notable are the respective positions of cut 3 in rear wall 2, and opening device 7 between this cut 3 and gummed tab 6 carried by flap 5. It is understood that operating the opening device 7 frees the flap 5 and the communication area is fully visible.

Shown in FIG. 3 is a perspective-view illustration of an embodiment of the envelope. The envelope 1 includes a cut 3 in its rear wall 2 and an opening device 7, by precutting, for example. An area 9 of rear wall 2 in the continuation of this cut 3 is surrounded on at least three sides by the opening device 7 and is intended to receive and work together with gummed tab 6 carried by flap 5. It is understood that when cutting the opening device 7, area 9, which carries gummed tab 6, is released, allowing flap 5 to be opened and the communication area 8 to be seen (ABCDEF).

Shown in FIG. 4 is an exploded-view illustration of the closed envelope, in an another aspect. It is understood that in the same manner, by actuating the opening device 7 by pulling the flap 5, it is released and the communication area becomes fully visible. Also noted is that the opening device 7 is located on the rear wall 2 to receive the gummed tab 6 of the flap 5.

The interest and advantages of the envelope of the invention are therefore understood, combining characteristics that enable optimal communication, that is

a. a communication area 8 formed by the inner surface of flap 5, increased and extended by the surface released by cut 3; and

b. an opening device 7 located so as to separate gummed tab 6 to release flap 5, which ensures that no parts of communication area 8 of the message will be damaged while opening using this envelope.

A new envelope has thus been produced, through implementation of a communication area on the inner wall of the extended flap to the inner face of the wall before cutting, which cannot be damaged when opening due to the presence of an integral opening system. 

1. An envelope device having a communication surface that is fully readable when opened, comprising: a rear wall having a cut; a front wall with a flap extending therefrom, the flap having a gummed tab and being of sufficient size to allow the gummed tab to be glued to the rear wall; and an opening device release the flap glued to the rear wall.
 2. The envelope device according to claim 1, wherein the opening device is located on the flap such that when the flap is attached with the front wall, the opening device is positioned between the cut and the gummed tab of the flap.
 3. The envelope device according to claim 1, wherein the opening device is located on the rear wall to receive the gummed tab of the flap.
 4. The envelop device according to claim 1, wherein a communication area is located on the inner face of the front wall and flap.
 5. The envelop device according to claim 4, wherein the communication area extends under space located under the opening device.
 6. The envelop device according to claim 2, wherein a communication area is located on the inner face of the front wall and flap.
 7. The envelop device according to claim 6, wherein the communication area extends under space located under the opening device.
 8. The envelop device according to claim 3, wherein a communication area is located on the inner face of the front wall and flap.
 9. The envelop device according to claim 8, wherein the communication area extends under space located under the opening device. 